My Fiasp Experience

You may have heard that Fiasp is Novo Nordisk’s new meal-time (bolus) insulin and was recently released in U.S. pharmacies. It is reported to be ultra-fast acting. It is so fast that you can take it after you start eating! I thought it was too good to be true. Could this insulin really be that much different than the current insulin I was using in my pump?

After setting my hopes too high for a few new diabetes products recently, I didn’t even think trying Fiasp was worth it. I knew Fiasp was available at my local pharmacy, but I didn’t bother asking my endocrinologist for a prescription immediately. I wasn’t impatient for this one. In fact, I wasn’t even interested in trying it. I didn’t want to be let down again.

But then, two of my friends using Fiasp showed me their Dexcom continuous glucose monitor graphs. Their Dexcom graphs were almost flat! They stayed in their target blood sugar range all day. I thought it was too good to be true but at this point… I had to take the plunge! So, here I am again, trying another new diabetes product!

So, How Did Fiasp Work for Me?

Fiasp has the same active ingredients as Novolog but has the addition of Vitamin B3 which helps with insulin absorption. And let me tell you, I know my body is absorbing insulin more effectively, and this insulin works fast!

For example, in the picture above, I ate 65 carbohydrates at 11:30 a.m. I cautiously bolused using a 1:12 insulin to carbohydrate ratio instead of my typical 1:10, since I was still learning how my body reacted to Fiasp. I was too scared to bolus after I began eating, so I delivered insulin about five minutes before taking my first bite. Look, no spike at all! Amazing!

Additionally, after I give myself a correction for blood sugars above my target of 100 mg/dL, my Dexcom arrows point down pretty quickly. This also leads me to believe that Fiasp is working faster than the typical rapid-acting insulin in my pump. My time in blood sugar range has also increased significantly! Wow. I’m still amazed.

Fiasp Tips

Like with any other self-management change, it is important to keep safety and communication with your health care provider in mind. Here are some more tips for those who are using or interested in trying Fiasp:

Monitor your blood sugar closely. Your blood sugar patterns are likely to change when switching to this insulin since its onset of action is different. Though my blood sugar has been amazing at meal times and I’ve avoided spikes, I’ve also been having more lows than usual from my basal. If you are using it for meal boluses, monitor your blood sugar for a couple of hours after meals to see if you may need to make changes in your insulin to carbohydrate ratio.

You may have to make basal changes. As I previously mentioned, Fiasp has a different onset of action, and your body may absorb it better than other insulins. After spending most of yesterday low, I had to make some basal changes. This is why it is essential to communicate with your healthcare provider. It will be an adjustment period to make sure my basal is all set for this new insulin. It may take some time. Longterm, using less insulin is a great thing! Short-term, be careful!

Not all healthcare providers are comfortable prescribing Fiasp. Fiasp is still new. Not all healthcare providers are familiar with it or comfortable prescribing it. Many of my friends are asking me how I was able to get my hands on Fiasp. I simply just asked my endocrinologist for a Fiasp prescription. I have had others tell me that their endocrinologists will not fill Fiasp yet because they (a) haven’t heard of it, (b) it isn’t approved for use in insulin pumps, or (c) it isn’t approved in pediatric patients. Well, it is true that it isn’t yet approved to use in insulin pumps or in pediatric patients, so it is up to your health care provider if they feel safe prescribing it.

Fiasp should cost just as much as other insulins. My insurance covered Fiasp under the same tier as the other insulin I was using. People have reported being able to use the Novo savings card to purchase it as well. I did not need a prior authorization to fill my Fiasp prescription, but it may differ depending on the insurance company.

So, overall, I am still very satisfied with Fiasp! Only time will tell if this change makes a positive impact on my A1c and decreases glucose variability. For now, I am so happy with my decision to try something new! What do you think about trying Fiasp now?

Julia has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 18 years! She is a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), registered nurse (RN), a pump & CGM trainer, the healthcare chair of Camp Ho Mita Koda and a doctoral research fellow in Cleveland, Ohio. She attends Case Western Reserve University and her dissertation work is focused on financial stress and the transition into adulthood with type 1 diabetes. She also shares her personal and clinical self-management wisdom in her writing. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Cleveland and traveling all over the country to visit friends and family.